There are animal nicknames for all kinds of sports teams. There are the Bears, Tigers, Lions, Diamondbacks, Wolverines, Badgers, Sharks—these are dangerous animals—Eagles, Hawks, Bulls, Panthers, Bengals, Raptors, Bobcats, Broncos, Grizzlies. I don’t know of a single team—professional, college, or high school—called the Sheep. “The San Francisco Sheep” just doesn’t inspire terror in anybody. Jesus says, “I’m sending you out like sheep.” He doesn’t stop there. “I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves.” Question: How does a sheep go among wolves? Answer: Very carefully. Very humbly. The sheep doesn’t go out and say, “Hey, wolves, I’m here to straighten you out! Hey, wolves, I’m going to get you to shape up!” This assignment doesn’t sound very glamorous. But when you think about it, it takes some courage for a sheep to be sent to the wolves. To be sent as a sheep means I don’t lead with how smart or strong or impressive I am.
John Ortberg, All the Places to Go . . . How Will You Know?
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